Accoiint-fiasrdik g apparatus



Jan. 27, 1931. G. e. ANDERSON ACCOUNT FIPIDING APPARATUS C: Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.

Jan. 27, 1931.

Filed Nov. 8. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 190 \ovo w I w a a 2 5 g H 2% H s Jan. 27, 1931. s. e. ANDERSON ACCOUNT FINDING APPARATUS Fil ed Nov.

8, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 V Patented Jan. 27, 1931 5 r -saw Mi ,r 5. $1 45.!

FFICE,

GEORGE G. AIIDERSON, OF STILOUIS, MI SSOU RI, ASSI GNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO REMINGTON BAND INQ, OF NE l/V YCRK, N. Y A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE ACCOUNT-FINDING APPARATUS Application filed November 8, 1920. Serial No. 422,542,

ary 19, 1920, the desired account is found by a series of steps comprising primary, secondary and tertiary operations in accord .ance with a given system of classification,

such as the numerical or decimal system. Accordingly, the account cardsere arranged in a tray or tr ys and areidivid'e-d into "groups, the groups divided into divisons, and

the divisions each comprise a plurality of cards. More specifically statedfthe tray is divided by partitions into a series of compa 'tments each of which is arranged to receive a. unit of cards;'for instance, in a tray of one thousand cards, there are one hundred compartments. Cooperating with the tray is a selector mechanism which is'controlled located to locate a division of the located I group, and tertiarilylocated to locate the desired card in the located division.

The selectors are then operated to isolate or shift the finally-located card. I

The cards of aunit or division have selective cha acteristics var antly arranged along the edges thereof, such asithe'bottom edges,

so as to permit cooperation therewith of the ranged along the tray so as to simultaneously,

eliicct selection or isolation of all cards ending in a certain number., r

It is frequently necessary to inspect the cards in atray andin order to accomplish this, the tray must be so constructed as to permit suchready inspection while the tray is in position. i

One of the objects of this invention, there} fore, is to provide a tray which is so constructedfas to readily permit inspection, oi": the accounts.

Another object otthis invention is to provide a tray in which the tray parts, such as the partitions, can be readily placed in contracted. position for selection, and in expanded position for inspection. I l

Inthe apparatus described in the application rcterlred to, when one or more cards are shifted during selection and isolation.

otherv cardsthan the desired cal-dare liable to be. carried along with the desired card or cards,-- due to frictional or electrical cohesion between the cards.

I itzloreover, wherethe selec ors are operated v to shift a deslred card or cards and then returned to normal position, as is.es pecially the casewhere a number. otaccounts are successively located and shifted, the de-' sired card or cards. after selection and isolation, are liable to drop before they are-.witlr drawn.

Other objectsot' this invention,therefore,

are-to provide means whereby cards other than 'tllGClGSllQil or shifted cardsare retained 7 against shifting, and to provide meanswh'ereby the shifted card orcards are retained in shifted position or positions, while the remaining cards are retained against shifting.

.l urthcr,objects will appear from the; dctail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side elevation partly in section'of an apparatus embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. l Figure 3 is a detail plan oi the tray at one end 1 V Figure dis a view sin'iilarto: Figure 2, but

showing another eml'iodinient of this invention; and,

Figure 5 is a detail showing a unit of cards. teferring to the accompanying drawings, and more particularlyto Figures 1, 2 and 3, l designates the sides of the tray, and 2 andlS the ends thereof. The end 2 connects the sides of the tray, while-below the end 3 is a cross-piece 4 also connecting the sides; The

end '3 has lugs 5projectingtherefrom, which sare arranged to takeover the cross-piece 4 while the top of this end 3 is provided with a grip 6 to permit shifting thereof. The end 3 is, therefore, hinged or pivoted at its lower end near the bottom of the tray. Pivoted on the sides of the tray at 7 are screws 8 which are arranged to take into open slots near the upper corners of the end 3, the screws 8, being provided with nuts 9 whereby the tray end 3 may be clamped in position. Upon loosening the nuts 9. however, and swinging them in the direction of the arrows, Figure 3, to dotted positions, the tray end 3 is freed and can then be moved outwardly to dotted position, Figure 1.

The tray has liners 10 extending along the sides thereof and then inwardly at their lower ends as shown at 11. Spaced from these liners 10 are liners 12 also bent inwardly at their lower edges, shown at 13, and inwardly at their upper edges, as shown at 14, the liners continuing upwardly at 15 and being secured at their upperedges to the liners 10 by seaming the latter thereover. as shown at 16.

Angle bars 17 extend along the bottom of the tray and rest on the inwardly bent portions 13, these angle bars being provided with bars 25 extending along the tray, so as to form rests for the cards hereinafter to be described. while the channel bar 18 extends along and centrally of the tray, and is connected to the end 2 and the cross piece 4, thereby forming a central rest for the cards. A series of strips 19 are pivoted on the angle bars 17 by ears 20 on the strips, connected by pintles 21 to the angle bars 17. these strips being recessed to takeover the channel bar 18. Each strip 19 has fixed thereto a plate 22 which extends upwardly between the sides 15. There are thus provided a series of partitions dividing the tray into a series of compartments.

Each compartment is arranged to receive a series of ten cards 23 provided with lugs 24: at their ends adapted to rest on the bars 25. while each card is also provided with a central lug 26 adapted to rest on the channel. bar 18. The cards are provided with characteristics 27 in the form of lugs, these characteristics being variantly arranged along the edges of t 1e cards to correspond with the positions of the cards in the unit as fully described in the application referred to. There may be also provided supplemental characteristics 28 of shorter depths than the main characteristics 27, and each supplemental characteristic corresponds in position to the position of the main characteristic on the next preceding card. It will, therefore. be seen that when a unit of ten cards is placed in a compartment. the characteristics on the different cards will be arranged in accordance with their numerical order in the unit whatever the order in which the cards are placed in the compartment.

The strips 19 are provided with a series of slots 29 expanded at their lower ends and corresponding to the positions of the characteristics on the cards. These slots 29 are arranged to guide the normal selectors S. which as described in the application referred to, are arranged to be shifted along and t 'ansversely of the tray. so that a given pair of selectors is arranged to cooperate with the desired card in a desired compartment, the slots 29 acting as guides to guide these selectors into cooperation with the characteristics. in addition to the normal selectors til, there are also provided pilot selectors l in the form of bars arranged to be connected with the normal selectors S so as to concurrently elevate all cards ending in the same number when it is desired to audit the accounts. it will be noted that there are pairs of selectors and corresponding pairs of guide' 29 s well as corresponding pairs of character.. .cs, this being for the purpose of permitting engagement of the selectors with a card or .ards at spaced points in order to prevent tipping and binding.

ll ith this mechanism any desired card may be selected by positioning a selected pair of selectors for cooperation with the desired guides 29 in the desired compartment, and

upon ele "ation of the selectors, a desired card will be raised, while all other cards will re main undisturbed.

As heretofore pointed out, it is desirable to permit expansion of the tray for the pur pose of inspection of the accounts. Accordingly, as heretofore described, the front end 3, as well the partitions 22', are pivotally mounted in the bottom of the tray through the connections heretofore described. Accordingly, after these partitions are free and after the end 3 is released and swung forwardly t'o dotted positions, Figure 1, all of the partitions may also swing back and forth to permit inspection of the cards. In order, however, to position the cards for selection. the partitions as well as the end El. must be in vertical position so as to proprwly position the cards for cooperation with the selectors. Means must, therefore. be provided for retaining the partitions as well as the end 3 when so positioned.

Retaining bars are mounted for vertical movement on the liners 12 by headed pins 31 engaging slots 32 in the liners, these retaining bars being further guided by shanks 1 engaging slots in the inwardly eiztending portions The retain ng bars 530 are each provided with a series oi slots 34- i dapted to take over lugs 35 on the strips ll) connected with the partitions. the slots 3-11 being flared at their open ends so as to position the partitions. it will be seen that there is a slot ill for each partition, so that when the retaining bars 30 are dropped with the slots or notches as engaging the lugs 35. all of the partitions will be retained in vertical position and in proper spaced relation. The lugs 35 are also bent rearwardly shown at 36 to'initially space the partitions to a certain extent.

Mountedfor sliding movement on headed 1 pins 37 ontheliners 12 are controlling bars 38, which are provided with cam slots 39 adapted to engage the pins 31 connected with the retaining bars 30. These controlling'bars are interconnected with the front end 3 by pins 40 on lugs 41 011 the front end 3 engaging slots 42 in the forward ends of the controlling bars. of the front end 3, the controlling bars 38 will be Vreciprocated and this will in turn raise and lower the retaining bars 30.

In then ormal position of the parts with the front end 3 closed and latched, the retaining bars will be dropped over the lugs 35 so as to retain the partitions in proper sp ccd relation and in proper verticalpositions l' i heii, however, the front end 3 is released and swung forwardly to dotted position, Fig. 1, thereby carryin the controlling bars 38 with it, the retaining bars 30 will be raised so as to clear the lugs 35, thereby releasing all of the partitions." These partitions can then be therefore, be seen that the tray can be placed in condition for inspection by the release of the partitions and in condition for selection by the locking of these partitions in proper spaced relation and in proper positions.

As heretoforedescribed, when a desired card or-cards is raised. other cards are liable to be raised with it. Moreover. the desired card is liable. to drop'after the selectors have been dropped In accordain-e;with this invention, therefore, means are providedfor retaining the cards against shifting, and this comprises yielding elements engaging the side edges of the cards. r i

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the side positioning members 15 have, extendingtherealong, plates 45 which are attached at 46 at their upper ends so as'to permit inward and outward movement, each plate 45 being provided with a series of pins 47 encircled by springs 48 passing through perforations in the elements 15, said springs bearing against the liners 10, the

of. these plates 45 being limited by lugs 49 engaging the elements 15. ac plates 45 may be of metal, but they may be faced with felt, as shown at 50, Figure 4. In every case, the upper faces of the elements 15' and of the plates 45 and the facing 50 are rounded as shown at 51, to facilitate insertion of the Accordingly, upon swingingoutward movement cards. The plates 45 are slightly inclined and converge toward the lower edges as shown in F 1g. 2 toassist in guiding the cards into the tray; The springs. 48 act to place the plates 45 and their facing 50, if utilized,

against the side edges of the cards, it being noted that the partitions 22 are somewhat "or cards will be shifted while all other cards will be retained against shifting. Moreover, if a desired. card has-been thus shifted, it is retained by the retaining elements 45 and 50 against dropping, so that the selectors can move back to normal position for the selection of another card. Accordingly, any number of cards maybe successively elevated and all of the desired cards in a single tray, for instance, may be removed after they have been all located andshifted.

' It is obvious that various changesmay be made in the details of construction of this invention without departing from the spirit of this invention ;.it is therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is: r

1. In an apparatus of the character de scribed employing card selector mechanism, a card tray, members pivotally connected to the tray at thenpper edges,'and means resiliently projecting said members into engagement with the side edges of the cards and 'adapted to normally retain said cards against shifting relative to the tray.

2. In an apparatus of the character described employing card selector mechanism,a

card tray separate from and adapted for cooperation with said mechanism, members hinged at their upper edges to said tray, and

resilient means for operating said members to engage the edges of cards in the tray for normally retaining said .cai'ds against shift= ing.

3. In an apparatus of tlie'character described employing card selector mechanism. a

card tray having said nechanism operably associated therewith,members pivotally con nected to thetray at'the upper edges, and

means resiliently projecting said members to engage theside'edges of the cards and adapted tonormallyretain said cards against shifting relativetothe tray, said members having rounded upper ends to facilitate insertion and positioning of the cards in the tray.

4 In an apparatus of the, character described employing card selector mechanism,

a card tray'senarate from and adapted for cooperation with said mechanism, members *pivotally connected to the tray attheupper edges, and means for resiliently projecting said members into engagement with the side edges of the cards and adapted to normally retain said cards against shifting relative to the tray, said members being mounted in opposed relation and converging slightly toward the lower ends to assist in guiding cards during insertion into the tray.

in account finding apparatus employing card selector mechanism, a card tray, liner members at opposite sides oi said tray formed with portions defining the card-receiving space of said tray and other portions oli'set outwardly relatively to the first-nan'ied portions, i artitions movable longitudinally of the tray between the firstanentioned portions of said liner members, and means for control ling movement ot said partitions mounted on the secoml-named portions of said liner members adjacent to the ends of cards in said card-receiving portion.

(3. In an apparatus oi? the character described en'iploying selector mechanism, a card tray for holdingcards in adjacent relation on edge for cooperation *ith the selector mech anism, means carried by said tray interspersed within the cards and movable therewith longitudinally on the tray and means for moving and retaining said movable means in position to hold said cards in close adjacent relation for operation by said selector mechanism.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described employing selector mechanism, a card tray adapted to support cards on edge therein for movement longitudinally of the tray, means forming part of said tray having parts engaging said cards and movable therewith in the tray, and other parts cooperating with the first-mentioned parts, operable to move said first-mentioned parts into position to retain said cards in adjacent relation.

R, In an apparatus of the character described employing selector mechanism, a card tray having cards arranged in units therein adapted to hold the tards on edge 'ior cooperation with the selector mechanism, and means 011 the tray interspersed between said units of cards for free movement relative to each other with the cards of said units, and means for retaining said first-mentioned means in position for preventing relative movement oi said cards longitudinally of said tray. V

9. In an apparatus of the character described employing selector mechanism,- a card tray having partitions mounted for movement longitrulinzdly of the tray -adap.ied to form compartments and adapted for cooperation with the selector mechanism to insure proper engagement thereof with the cards, and means on the tray normally pre venting longitudinal movement of the partitions relative thereto, said means being movnally thereof adapted to form compartments and adapted for cooperation with theselector mechanism to insure proper engagement thereof with the cards, and means on the tray movable vertically thereof into one position for engaging and holding said partitions against relative longitudinal movement in the tray, said means being movable into another position out of engagement with said partitions whereby said partitions may be moved longitudinaily ol? the tray.

ll. .ln an apparatus of the character dc.- scribed, a "ard tray having partitions mount-- ed for movement lmigitudinally of the tray, and means engaging each of said partitions for retaining said partitions in spaced relation, said means ljieing movable into position to release said partitions for relative move ment longitudinally in said tray.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a card tray having partitions mount ed for movement longitudinally or". the tray, means operable for moving and positioning said partitions in one position and adapted to retain them in said position against longitudinal movement, and means for operating said positioning and retaining means.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a card tray having a. movable end and having partitions mounted for movement longitudinally thereof, and operating elements associated with said tray and connected to said end operable into one position by said end to engage each of said partitions for moving and retaining said partitions in spaced relation in one position against loin gitudinal movement, said elements being adapted to be moved relative to said tray by said end from said position to release said.

partitions jllOI longiti'idimil movement.

it. in an apparatus of the character dcscribed, a card tray having partitions pivoted at their lower ends in the bottom o l. said tray and provided with selector guides.

15. In an apparatus of the character described employing card-selector mechanism. a card tray indepei'ident of said mechanism adapted for cooperation with said mechanism, and spring-pressed plates l aving parts interlocking with said tray tor retaining cards other than the selected card against sl 'tting.

In testimony whereof I allix mv signature this (an day of Aug, 1920.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,790, 453. Granted January 27, 1931, to

' GEORGE G. ANDERSON.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 27, before the word "ends" insert the word lug; page 4, line 94, claim 12, after the word "positioning" insert the words each of; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of March, A; o. 1931.

' M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

